Teachers camped out against the policies of the Ministry of Education at Rossio Square in Lisbon

Teachers and school staff started a new public school camp this Monday and, with about 30 tents already set up, insisted the competition would not stop.

The Praça do Rossio in Lisbon will be occupied for one night by a few dozen teachers and non-teaching workers in a new camp for better careers and work time recovery, which is due to last until May 1st.

After about 30 tents were set up, the coordinator of the Union of All Education Workers (Stop) confirmed to reporters that the protest, which has been going on almost uninterrupted since the end of last year, will not stop until the government responds to the claims.

The basic demand is old, but this time the professors don’t seem to accept any other answer than a full reinstatement of frozen career time: six years, six months, and 23 days.

“Let the government not forget. As for Stop, we will continue this fight until the educational professionals want it,” said André Pestana.

Ana Custodio, a professor of history and geography, confirmed this, stressing that education professionals, more united than ever, are unwilling to accept that the restoration of their service life is once again delayed.

“Resentment has managed to gain a voice and take to the streets, something that has been largely dormant in recent years,” he said, also given that teachers are not asking for more than to give back what was taken from them and felt. arrogantly ignored for guardianship.”

Also, history professor Ricardo Silva added that, in his opinion, the Ministry of Education is adopting a “posture of great stubbornness” and seems to refuse to engage in serious negotiations.

“Serious negotiations should have been an intensive process to solve problems, and the government does not want to solve problems. In the end, it does nothing,” said Ricardo Silva, who also criticized some of the proposals presented. under the tutelage of trade union organizations as part of negotiations, including a new management and recruitment regime that was eventually approved in March without the consent of the unions.

“If the government wants strikes to stop, it cannot hold teachers accountable,” he added, noting that “for many years now” good working conditions have also been lacking in schools.

On Tuesday, these same professionals will take part in a national demonstration on April 25, and Stop coordinator André Pestana once again called for civil society to get involved, advocating this, in addition to the public school that needs to be fought for. for all, the protection of public health, workers and housing is also at stake.

“With what we are currently experiencing in Portugal, this cannot be another April 25 ritual. We must do the greatest on April 25 of this century,” he stressed, referring to a poster raised behind him by dozens of colleagues, which read: “There is no money only for those who work.”

After the demonstration, the camp will move to Largo do Carmo, where it will remain until May 1st.

The union is also planning a strike over assessments from May 5 to 12 to challenge year 2 students taking digital assessments.